I caught sight of myself in a mirror en route to zipping into the Alter G anti-gravity treadmill this morning. I immediately got the YMCA lady behind the front desk to take a picture of me. Sugar plum fairy anyone?

Maybe imagine the nutcracker as a water bottle.

Here’s a view of the zip in.

I ran for 3 hours this morning.

Remember the best run you’ve ever had? Where you felt light and like you were almost running downhill the whole way? That’s what running on the Alter G is like every time. Honestly, I will be sad when I have to return to the Earth’s gravity. There is a downside to the machine, of course. Because it’s so easy to run two and three minutes faster per mile than you usually can, you do. And you can get pretty darn sore with all that speedy leg turnover. I haven’t been this sore in a good long while. I’m loving it, but I tried to be a chug along at a more moderate pace today, so I wouldn’t pull anything. (You know, 7 minute miles.) And I only set the incline at 10%.

It’ll be interesting to see how this training affects my running afterwards. It’s definitely easier on the cardiovascular system, but all that leg turnover… Guess we’ll see in another 5 weeks.

5 Responses to Dance of the Alter G Fairy

That’s a pretty goofy looking outfit to try to run in! Is there a “sugar plum” Gu flavor?

Sorry to hear you won’t be at Western States. Me neither, as it turns out. I have a friend here who was going to attempt her first 100 there, and I was planning on crew/pacing. She also came up with a stress fracture in her foot (cuboid bone). Luckily, I have another friend who is in Hardrock, so plans are in the works for providing my support there.

Today’s run (16 miles, about 3500 ft ascent) felt like I was in the Anti-Alter G. Very sluggish. Just too beautiful a day to cut it short… perfect temps (40-60F), blue skies, wildflowers, snow on the surrounding mountains.

Hilarious, Liza. You make a lovely sugar plum fairy. If you have a nice pair of old school roller skates, you could get by in that mini-skirt get up. I don’t know what you Texas housewives are wearing these days….

Glad you are continuing to train in zero gravity. You’ll make a good astronaut.

Your explanation of the Run-Walk-Run program is interesting. I’m still trying to wrap my brain around the complicated name… you run, then you walk, then what, again?

Love checking your blog. Very entertaining in spite of your suffering. I hope you are well. Big hugs to Eliot and Asa.

Remembering the ‘aqua jogging’ karma – you look great Liza! My physio has just suggested that I will be able to use one of these in a couple of months, so I’ll probably be posting some reciprocal photos from the other side of the pond about Leadville time :lol: